Carton having a dispensing facility, and carton blank therefor



Aug. 31, 1965 G. A. MOORE 3,203,615

CARTON HAVING A DISPENSING FACILITY, AND CARTON BLANK THEREFOR FiledFeb. 21, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 450E 45 IQELl/YG'ZN Mamas ATTORNEY;

Aug. 31, 1965 G. A. MOO RE 3,203,615

CARTON HAVING A DISPENSING FACILITY, AND CARTON BLANK THEREFOR FiledFeb. 21, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TORN United States Patent 3,2il3,615CARTGN L IAVKNG A DISPENSTNG FACILRTY, AND 'CARTGN BLANK THEREFQR GeorgeArlington M'oore, New York, (9143 Lake Shore Drive, (lineage, lit.)

Filed Feb. 21, 1963, er. No. 260,224 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-'17) Thisinvention relates generally to cartons, and has particular reference toa carton, and to a carton blank of which the carton may be formed,wherein a dispensing facility is provided in an unusually simple,inexpensive, and efficient manner.

The invention relates more particularly to a novel containerconstruction having a permanently sealed flat end closure affording atight sift-proof condition, and provided at the same time with adispensing aperture of improved character in an adjacent Wall that canbe repeatedly uncovered and re-covered without impairment of the endwall securement. The aperture is provided with a novel sub-closure flapthat is an integral part of the initial single blank or" ioldable sheetfrom which the carton can be set up.

The carton blank can be manufactured, handled and set up withconventional equipment and substantially in accordance with conventionaltechniques, and the filling and sealing of the set-up carton can becarried out substantially in similar fashion.

An efiicient sift-proof carton formed of paperboard material has beensought for many years and is currently a topic of research anddevelopment programs in many branches of the container making industry.Those skilled in the art know that such a container must have aleakproof construction in order to eliminate the undesirable costlynecessity for use of augmenting sheet material such as inner liners, baginserts and/ or overwraps. Secondly, such a container, to be efficient,must embody an adequate dispenser facility that can be easily openedwithout damage in order that it may be tightly re-closed. It is anobject of this invention to provide an improved container of the classsdescribed, adapted for the efficient distribution of such products asdried milk, confectionery sugar, cake mixes, pharmaceutical powders,dehydrated soups and other hygroscopic commodities.

To this end, it is a primary object of the invention to provide asift-proof container that eliminates the use of inner lining andoverwrap materials and has a novel dispenser facility formed as anintegral part of a single carton blank and brought into being during theclosing and sealing of an end of the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for fingermanipulation to open the dispenser facility without impairing itssubsequent usefulness so that the dispenser may be reclosed in tightlyretained condition.

further object of the invention is to provide a fiat end closure whichis permanently sealed and remains so, independent ol theintegrally-formed dispenser sub-closure construction.

The above and other objects with attendant advantages are attained bythis invention, a particular embodiment of which I have illustrated inthe accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however,that these drawings are intended for the purpose of illustration only,and are not to be taken as a definition of the limits of the invention,reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similarparts throughout the views shown:

FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of a container-forrning blank embodyingthe features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial view in perspective of a step in the 3,23,6l5Patented Aug. 31, 1965 2 process of setting up a carton formed of theblank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation of the container with sectionsthereof broken away and showing in cross-section the progressive stepstaken in completing the setting up of the end closure and the dispenserfacility;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the completed container, itsfiat end closure and dispensing closure facility conjointly formed andsealed;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the container in side elevation, showingit in a tilted position after being opened for dispensing purposes;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the container, showin the step taken inre-closing the dispenser aperture;

FIG. 7 is a partial plan view of a modified carton blank;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the container formed of themodified blank of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a similar view of the completed container, showing itsdispenser opened for dispensing purposes.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated primarily as being adaptedto the folding carton-type container. The improved blank as illustratedis adapted to form an improved container by novel method steps thateliminate the use of conventional paste fountain equipment and thecomplicated apparatus conventionally utilized for inner lining andoverwrapping cartons.

The blank 4 of the present invention may be made of any desired qualityof foldable sheet material. Primarily, paperboard of suitable thicknessmay be processed in sheet or roll form into blanks by convention-a1practice; the material being printed, adhesive being applied inpredetermined patterns, and pattern lustre overcoat being applied overthe printing, all in usual manner. The blanks are then cut and creasedinto the special form illustrated.

The blank 4 is cut and creased to form four side wall panels arranged inopposing pairs. More particularly, the blank 4 is composed of hingedfront, rear and side panels 5, 6, '7 and t separated by the longitudinalhinge lines 9. The panel 5 has a marginal connection portion 10projecting outwardly at its outer boundary. The side wall panels 6 and 8are each provided with end edges defined by the aligned crease lines 1d;the panel 5 has its end edge defined by crease line 12; and the panel 7has its end edge defined by crease line 13. The line 12 is spacedupwardly two thicknesses of blank material above its adjacent line 11and line 13 is spaced upwardly three thicknesses of blank material abovethe adjacent line 11. The panel 5 is provided with a foldable endclosure panel 14 coated on both surfaces inside and out with a dryactivatable adhesive 0. This may be, selectively, a suit-able hot-meltresin applied thereupon by knurled coating rolls. The panel 6 of theblank is provided with an aperture 15 having a peaked top edge for apurpose hereinafter to be described, the apex pointing upward toward theadjacent end edge of the panel 6. A U-shaped slit 16 is provided belowthe bottom edge of the aperture 15.

The panel 6 is also provided with a foldable closure forming element 17projected outwardly from crease line 11. This element is provided withtwo additional crease lines 18 and 19. The lines 11, 18 and 19 arespaced apart substantially by equal distances and are parallel.

The upper portion of the panel 17 is provided with a pair of spacedperforated or otherwise weakened lines 20 extending vertically from thecrease line 19 to the end of the panel. Each line 20 is spaced inwardlyof the out side edges 21 of the element and the resultant border spacetherebetween is coated with a dry activatable adhesive b that extendsthe full length of the panel.

The pattern-applied overcoat gloss material on the blank avoids thesemarginal areas as well as their counterparts 22 on the panel 6.

The outer edge of the element 17 is provided with a foldable tab portion23 having a base crease line 24 and slit side edges.

The panel 7 is provided with a secondary foldable end wall panel 25.

The panel 8 is provided wtih a foldable tuck forming element 26 having acentral crease line 18 parallel to the crease line 11. The marginalparts of the element 25 are coated with the adhesive b.

It is to be noted that the shape of the aperture can be modified in anydesired manner to suit the dispensing of different products. Forexample, perforated cut holes may be useful for such products as flouror condiments. The invention also contemplaes the blank being providedwith an interior surface faced with any desired plastic film such aspolyethylene, polypropylene, or other thermoplastic coating material. Insuch case, the foldable element 14 of the blank need not be separatelycoated on the inside.

The bottom end of the blank 4 may be provided with the same basicfoldable closure forming elements minus th dispenser facility, thecrease line 19 in the element 17 becoming a cut end edge.

The blank 4 may be folded and seamed in set-up condition by conventionalcarton folding machines. The folded blank then appears in the form shownat 27 in FIG. 2. The top end closure is then formed by first flexing thepair of tuck plies e and f to form a two-ply tuck or seating ledge. Theplies are folded inwardly along crease line 18 at the same time thelower ply e of each ledge is folded inward on the folding line 11 whilethe upper ply f turns outwardly into superposed relation to the lowerply e as shown in FIG. 3. The end-wall panel 14 is then folded on itshinge line 12 to bring its resinous coated inner surface upon theup-faced plies f of the two-ply tucks or ledges. While the panel 14 isretained in its folded position to compress the resistant superimposedledges, the panel portion 17 is folded downwardly upon the correspondingexterior surface of the side wall 6 as shown by dotted lines and arrowin FIG. 3. Accordingly, the adhesive b on the element '17 is broughtinto contact with the exterior surface of the side Wall 6, and the panelportion between the lines of weakness 20 closes the aperture 15. Theend-wall panel is then folded on its hinge line 13 onto the exteriorcoated surface of the panel 14. At this moment heat and pressure may beapplied simultaneously upon the exterior surface of the upper margins ofthe opposing side walls 6 and 8 upon the folded panel 17, and upon thelast folded panel 25, thereby activating the adhesives a and b andsealing the closures in a manner to render the container sift-proof.

The completed structure is illustrated in FIG. 4 showing a permanentlysealed flat end closure combined with a built-in and sealed dispenserclosure. The perforated lines 20 of the closure panel '17 keep it flatlyengaged over the aperture 15. The outer bonded marginal portions b arepermanently secured upon the side Wall 6. Should it be desired, the sealof the closure over the aperture can be reinforced by adding a band ofthe adhesive b across the panel 17 as illustrated by the stippled lines28 (FIG. 2).

It is to be noted that because of the peaked shape of the top edge ofthe aperture 15, distortion or bulging of the side wall adjacent to thisedge is avoided when folding the adjacent tuck along its hinge line 11as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The hinge line 19 of the closure panel 17 isfirmly secured in straight alignment and reinforcement by the bondedsections of the compressed superposed plies e and f of the seatingledges. Moreover, the end edges 21 of the superposed margins e and f arefirmly abutted against the interior surfaces of the opposing front andrear walls 5 and 7 which further reinforces and rigidifies the closureflap hinge and maintains it straight.

After filling the container with its intended product through its openbottom end and closing same in seam forming relationship in a similarmanner as hereinbefore described, the container upon reaching theconsumer may be easily opened for dispensing purpose in the manner shownin FIG. 5. This is accomplished by pulling outwardly on the bottom endof the severable section 29 of the panel 17 thereby releasing it alongits perforated lines 24) into open position. After dispensing a portionof the container contents, the gate section 29 may be closed in themanner illustrated in FIG. 6 and be retained in closed condition byinserting the tab 23 into the receptive slit line to as shown in FIG. 6.This tab thus constitutes a releasable latch that retains the re-closurein tightly restored condition in repeated dispensing sequence,independently of the adhesive securement initially established.

A modification of the container, affording a useful simplificationthereof, is shown in FIG. 7. The blank 3% is similar in all respects tothe blank 4 hereinbefore described, except with respect to the exteriorsurface of the side Wall panel 6a and the foldable closure flap. Themodification in the blank 34) consists in part in replacing the element17 of FIG. 1 with an unperforated plain panel 31 extended outwardly fromits base line 32, the end of the panel having a flange 33 hinged at 34.A frame-shaped pattern of adhesive material g is applied to the face ofthe panel 31, to ledge plies e and f and to side wall panel 6a. Thispattern extends around three sides of the dispensing aperture 150,transversely across the hinge line connecting the adjacent tuck (e'f')to the side wall 5a, and along an area adjacent to and parallel to theouter edge of the closure flap 31. The pattern shown is rectangular, butthis is not essential. It is important only that the pattern be of suchsymmetry, and so located, that it creates opposed U-shaped patterns onthe closure flap and side wall when the carton is set up.

The adhesive material that may be utilized for this purpose may be inthe category of latex and copolymer coatings formulated to seal only toitself by direct pressure contact, yet being adapted for the cohesivebond to be cleanly released and rescaled in periodic sequence ofmanipulation. As shown in FIG. 7 the stripe of the adhesive g has foursides, U-shaped on the panel 6a and inverted U-shaped on the panel 31.Regardless of the protective coating material that may be utilized uponthe interior surface of the blank, upon stacking multiple blankstogether, the adhesive material g will not stick to such other coated orplain surfaces.

Upon folding the blank and setting up the container 35 in the mannerhereinbefore described (FIG. 8) the panel 31 is folded down on its hingeline 32 whereby the matching cohesive U-shaped borders are brought intodirect contact with each other thereby sealing the aperture 15 of thecontainer. To open the container for dispensing purpose, it is merelyrequired to lift and pull outwardly upon the free flange 33 of the panel31, as shown in FIG. 9. After dispensing a portion of the product fromthe container, it may then be re-closed by simply swinging the openedpanel into closed position whereby it is again cohesively sealed forcontinued protection of the remaining contents in the container.

In general it will be understood that numerous changes in details may bemade by those skilled in the art without necessarily departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A carton blank of foldable material comprising hinged panels adaptedto form the front, rear and side walls of the carton,

one of said side walls being provided with a dispensing apertureadjacent to its end edge,

panels hinged to the end edges of the said front and rear wall panelsand adapted to overlie each other to form an end wall of the saidcarton,

tuck panels secured by connecting hinges to the end edges of said sidewall panels respectively and adapted to form tucks underlying the saidend wall of said carton,

each tuck panel comprising a pair of adjacent areas hinged togetheralong a line parallel to the connecting hinge,

said areas being superposable to form a two-ply tuck,

a closure flap for said dispensing aperture hingedly connected to theouter edge of the outer ply of the adjacent tuck,

adhesive means adapted to secure said closure flap to said side wallalong an area adjacent to said aperture on the side remote from saidclosure flap hinge,

one of said end Wall panels being coated on both faces withheat-activatable adhesive,

the coating on one face serving to bond said panel to the underlyingtucks when said carton is folded,

the coating on the other face serving to bond said panel to the otherend Wall panel to provide a permanent two-layer end wall construction.

2. A carton blank of foldable material comprising hinged panels adaptedto form the front, rear and side walls of the carton,

one of said side walls being provided with a dispensing apertureadjacent to its end edge,

panels hinged to the end edges of the said front and rear wall panelsand adapted to overlie each other to form an end wall of the saidcarton,

tuck panels secured by connecting hinges to the end edges of said sidewall panels respectively and adapted to form tucks underlying the saidend wall of said carton,

each tuck panel comprising a pair of adjacent areas hinged togetheralong a line parallel to the connecting hinge,

said areas being superposable to form a two-ply tuck,

a closure flap for said dispensing aperture hingedly connected to theouter edge of the outer ply of the adjacent tuck,

adhesive means adapted to secure said closure flap to said side Wallalong an area adjacent to said aperture on the side remote from saidclosure flap hinge,

the aperture edge adjacent to said closure flap hinge being of peakedconfiguration with its apex pointing toward said hinge.

3. A carton blank of foldable material comprising hinged panels adaptedto form the front, rear and side walls of the carton,

one of said side walls being provided with a dispensing apertureadjacent to its end edge,

panels hinged to the end edges of the said front and rear wall panelsand adapted to overlie each other to form an end wall of the saidcarton,

tuck panels secured by connecting hinges to the end edges of said sidewall panels respectively and adapted to form tucks underlying the saidend wall of said carton,

each tuck panel comprising a pair of adjacent areas hinged togetheralong a line parallel to the connecting hinge,

said areas being superposable to form a two-ply tuck,

a closure flap for said dispensing aperture hingedly connected to theouter edge of the outer ply of the adjacent tuck,

adhesive means adapted to secure said closure flap to said side wallalong an area adjacent to said aperture on the side remote from saidclosure flap hinge,

said closure flap forming part of a panel having marginal areasalongside said flap and being permanently securable to the side wall ofthe carton alongside said aperture,

said flap being severable from said panel along lines of weaknessbetween said flap and said marginal areas,

said side wall being provided with a slit,

said closure flap having a tab portion being engageable separably withsaid slit to hold said closure flap down independently of Said adhesivesecurement,

said adhesive means comprising a frame-shaped pattern of adhesiveextending around three sides of said dispensing aperture, transverselyacross the hinge line connecting said tuck to said side wall, and alongan area adjacent to and parallel to the outer edge of said closure flap,

said pattern being so located that it creates opposed matching U-shapedpatterns on said closure flap and said side wall when said carton is setup,

said adhesive being of pressure-sensitive separable resealable characteradhering only to itself to allow said closure flap to be repeatedlylifted and restored.

4'. A carton blank of foldable material comprising hinged panels adaptedto form the front, rear and side Walls of the carton,

one of said side walls being provided with a dispensing apertureadjacent to its end edge,

panels hinged to the end edges of the said front and rear wall panelsand adapted to overlie each other to form an end Wall of the saidcarton,

tuck panels secured by connecting hinges to the end edges of said sidewall panels respectively and adapted to form tucks underlying the saidend Wall of said carton,

each tuck panel comprising a pair of adjacent areas hinged togetheralong a line parallel to the connecting hinge,

said areas being superposable to form a pair of marginal two-ply panelseating ledges,

a closure flap for said dispensing aperture including an extensionhingedly connected to the outer corner edge of the outer ply margin ofthe inner ply portion of one of said panel seating ledges,

adhesive means adapted to secure said closure flap to said side wallalong an area adjacent to said aperture on the side remote from saidclosure flap hinge,

one of said end wall panels being coated on both faces withheat-activatable adhesive,

the coating on one face serving to bond said panel to the underlyingtucks when said carton is folded,

the coating on the other face serving to bond said panel to the otherend wall panel to provide a permanent two-ply end wall closure formedconstruction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 640,451 1/00Danzenbaker 229-17 1,768,836 7/30 Gjorup. 1,980,851 11/34 Crawford229-51 2,750,093 6/56 Moore 229-17 X 2,751,136 6/56 Moore 229-17 2,758,775 8/56 Moore 229-23 FOREIGN PATENTS 393,199 6/ 33 Great Britain.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

1. A CARTON BLANK OF FOLDABLE MATERIAL COMPRISING HINGED PANELS ADAPTEDTO FORM THE FRONT, REAR AND SIDE WALLS OF THE CARTON, ONE OF SAID SIDEWALLS BEING PROVIDED WITH A DISPENSING APERTURE ADJACENT TO ITS ENDEDGE, PANELS HINGED TO THE END EDGES OF THE SAID FRONT AND REAR WALLPANELS AND ADAPTED TO OVERLIE EACH OTHER TO FORM AN END WALL OF THE SAIDCARTON, TUCK PANELS SECURED BY CONNECTING HINGES TO THE END EDGES OFSAID SIDE WALL PANELS RESPECTIVELY AND ADAPTED TO FORM TUCKS UNDERLYINGTHE SAID END WALL OF SAID CARTON, EACH TUCK PANEL COMPRISING A PAIR OFADJACENT AREAS HINGED TOGETHER ALONG A LINE PARALLEL TO THE CONNECTINGHINGE, SAID AREA BEING SUPERPOSABLE TO FORM A TWO-PLY TUCK, A CLOSUREFLAP FOR SAID DISPENSING APERTURE HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE OUTER EDGEOF THE OUTER PLY OF THE ADJACENT TUCK. ADHESIVE MEANS ADAPTED TO SECURESAID CLOSURE FLAP TO SAID SIDE WALL ALONG AN AREA ADJACENT TO SAIDAPERTURE ON THE SIDE REMOTE FROM SAID CLOSURE FLAP HINGE, ONE OF SAIDEND WALL PANELS BEING COATED ON BOTH FACES WITH HEAT-ACTIVATABLEADHEVISE, THE COATING ON ONE FACE SERVING TO BOND SAID PANEL TO THEUNDERLYING TUCKS WHEN SAID CARTON IS FOLDED, THE COATING ON THE OTHERFACE SERVING TO BOND SAID PANEL TO THE OTHER END WALL PANEL TO PROVIDE APERMANENT TWO-LAYER END WALL CONSTRUCTION.